Lithuania Accuses Russia Of 'Discriminatory' Border Regime

Lithuania has accused Russia of imposing new border checks as part of its campaign to intimidate former Soviet republics seeking closer ties with the European Union.

Lithuania's foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, said he "expects" other EU states to urge Russia to keep to its international commitments, and "to stop and refrain from any discriminatory practices directed at Lithuania as the rotating EU presidency."

Lithuania says that Russia last week imposed new customs checks on Lithuanian imports and has summoned the Russian ambassador to Vilnius to complain over the issue.

Lithuania is due in November to host an EU summit with the six members of the bloc's Eastern Partnership program.

Several of the countries are expected to formalize closer relationships with the EU at the Vilnius summit.

Russia has sought to pressure countries to reject closer ties with Brussels.

Armenia, an Eastern Partnership member, lost its opportunity to sign a series of trade and political agreements with the EU after it opted to join the Russia-led Customs Union.